Bottle seal cutting and trimming device



Jan. 27, 1942.

'- W. F. ROSS 'IRIMMIIXG DEVICE Filed Oct. 17, 1941' BOTTLE SEAL CUTTING AND -Patented Jan. 27, 1942 v William Ff Ross, Chicago, 111., assignor of one-half to John R. Bayston Qhicago lll.

Application October 17, 1941, Serial No. 415,497

4 Claims.

This invention relates toa bottle seal cutting and trimming device.

As is well known, many liquids today are placed in bottles which are closed by means of a stopper of cork or other suitable material, the stopper being provided with an outwardly extending flange which seats upon the topof the neck of the bottle when in place. Over the stopper and the neck of the bottle is then placed a seal of metal, cellulosic or other material, and hence, to open the bottle, it is necessary to cut orotherwise destroy the seal, as, for example, by placcontents of the bottle, and in some cases, even leads to particles of the seal becoming mixed with the. contents.

It is accordingly an object of the present invening a knife or other sharp instrument adjacent The device of the present invention comprises a somewhat shortlength of spring metal 2, which is bent back upon itself as at 4 to provide a. substantially U- or V-shaped device with two spaced apart arms 6, 8, one (6) of which is curved outwardly as at l8, then inwardly as a l2; and finally outwardly again as at M, this arrangement providing surfaces which conform to and, will readily receive and act as a guard for the thumb when the device is held in operative posi-- tion in the hand for use. The other'arm (8) of the device is likewise turned or bent outwardly as at l6 and thereafter follows the arc of a circle as at l8, this arrangement providing a convenient seat for one of the fingers of the operator, preferably thefirst finger. Y j

At the upper edge of the arm 80f the device,

preferably mid-way of the arc l8, there is protion to overcomethe above recited disadvantage and to provide a simple, inexpensive. and yet effective device or tool with which, in a simultaneous operation, the seal and other covering material of a bottle can be broken or cut at the point where the top of the bottle and the underside of the flange and stopper meet and which will perform a trimming action upon the seal so as to remove the jagged edge just above referred to by cutting the seal back to a point below the mouth of the bottle.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the device which is given by way of example only, it being understood that any modification within the scope of the invention may be utilized without departing from the spirit thereof.

In the drawing: I

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the tool ordevice constructed according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 isa side elevational view showing the device in use.

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the top of a bottle and stopper and seal therefor with the present device, also in cross section, in operative I vided a cutting device 20 which, as shown, can conveniently be of triangular shape and formed by turning inwardly a portion of the metal of the said arm 8. The under surface or bottom edge of the arm 8 is provided with a second cutting edge 22 and here again this edge may be triangular in shape and be formed by bending over inwardly the metal of the arm itself. Preferably the cutting edge 22-is disposed slightly forwardly of the cutting edge 28. (See Fig. 4.)

Preferably the arm 8 for some portion of its length is divided by means of a slit or cut 24, which in the present instance is shown as extending from the tip of-the arm 8 rearwardly for about 50% of the length of the 'arm and this for a" purpose which will hereinafter appear.

When it is desired to use the tool or device, it is placed about the neck of a bottle or other container to be opened with the upper cutting edge 20 in,1ine with the junction of the top or mouth of the container and the underside of the flange of thestopper and then its unconnected extremities are pressed inwardly firmly by the thumb on the arm 6 and by thefinger on the arm 8. .The bottle and the device are rotated relative to one another by the operator with the result that the said cutting edge 2]) will sever the seal and any other covering material circumferentially of the bottle at the junction above referred to. At the same time, this rotation of bottle and device will move the lower cutting edge 22 about the seal and other material, if any, at a point below the top'or mouth of the bottle and hence cut the seal back to such point.

:I'he advantage of dividing the arm 8 horizontally for a portion of its length is to permit the lower portion of the. arm carrying the cutting I; edge 22 to adjust itself to any protuberances top thereof is provided with a depressed ring or a slot which extends circumierentially around the neck. In the case of such a bottle, the dividing of the arm 8 would allow it to be-adjusted'to' a different plane so'that the cutting edge 22 will operate effectively upon the seal which in the case of a bottle so constructed, would be depressed into said ring or slot. vThis makes the device adaptable to a large range of bottle necks and corksof varying sizes.

It will be appreciatedthat by varying the width of the arm 8, the distance between the upper and lower cutting edges 20, 22, can also be varied.

By the present invention a bottle opener has been provided which will effectively remove or cut away a seal at a plurality of desired places and thus when the bottle is opened, provide a clear neck which will facilitate the ready pouring oi the contents of the bottle uncontaminated by the metal of the seal.

' Iclaim:

1. A bottle seal cutting and trimming device comprising a length of spring metal doubled back upon itself to provide two spaced apart and opposed arms, one of said arms bearing a pair of spaced apart cutting edges whereby to cut a. seal disposed about the neck of a bottle circumferentially in two places and means on said one armto permit the device to be adjusted for use in connection with bottles of difierent sizes.

2. A bottle seal cutting and trimming device comprising a substantially V-shaped member of spring metal, the legs of said member being provided with intumed cutting edges disposed in different planes, whereby tolcut and trim a seal about the neck of a bottle at vertically separated points.

3. A cutting and trimming device comprising a 'U-shaped member, one of the arms of whichresulting divided portions of the arm being formed, at its outer edge, with an intumed cutter, whereby to cut a seal disposed about the neck of a bottle in two vertically separated planes.

WILLIAM F. ROSS. 

